Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a State Declaration for Extreme Heat Emergency as well as a statewide burn ban as the forecast calls for continued triple digit temperatures and very little chance of rain.
Lincoln Parish is included in the excessive heat warning as well as the red flag warning for fire danger.
Excessive Heat Warning continues with triple-digit high temperatures expected throughout this week and heat indexes of over 115 degrees on some days.
The extended forecast shows temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, including 107 degrees on Thursday and 105 degrees on Friday and Saturday.
A Red Flag Warning is in effect today for most of East Texas and North Louisiana generally along and south of I-20 with very dry conditions, low relative humidity and occasional wind gusts contributing to enhanced fire danger.
Areas north of I-20 will also experience low RH, but winds will be lighter and fuels aren’t quite as dry to warrant a Red Flag Warning for these areas.
Officials urge people to check on elderly family, friends and neighbors and to keep all pets indoors if possible while providing plenty of water for those that can’t be brought inside.
On Monday, August 21, 2023, shortly before 4:00 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on LA Hwy 837 near LA Hwy 151. This crash claimed the life of 51-year-old Patricia Eley of Simsboro.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, driven by Jamie Bell, was traveling north on LA Hwy 837. At the same time, a 2005 Dodge Ram, driven by Anthony Cappo, was traveling south on LA Hwy 837. For reasons still under investigation, both vehicles crossed the centerline and struck each other head-on.
Eley, who was properly restrained and a passenger in the Dodge, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s Office. Both drivers, who were properly restrained, received minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Although impairment is unknown, routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Stay safe on the road by always driving attentively and without impairment. Avoid distractions, such as texting, eating, or using your phone, and remain focused on the task at hand. Also, never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs (prescribed or illicit). Making responsible choices while driving can save lives and prevent tragedies.
In 2023, Troop F has investigated 23 fatality crashes, resulting in 26 deaths.
As methods for student learning is ever changing in the world of modern technology, Louisiana Tech’s own assistant professor Dr. Dustin Whitlock of the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) recognizes the need for educators to keep up with these changes.
Thus, Whitlock spent two weeks this summer at the Massachusettes Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., near Boston in an effort to study the enhancement of STEM learning through mixed and augmented reality in order to benefit students, thanks in part to grant funding at both the state and federal levels.
“The College of Education and Human Sciences, specifically the Curriculum Instruction Leadership program, is continuing to evolve as the field of education evolves,” Whitlock said. “The university and program understand that we have to make sure we are continuing to keep teachers up to date with best practices. There is a big push within the field of education to move toward learning science and encouraging teachers the “how and why” we learn rather than just the “what” to teach.
“In that, there are pushes towards increasing new technologies and doing different things. There have been some new opportunities to look at new technology as it relates to student learning. One of the things that we’ve gotten interested in is the usage of what is known as mixed reality, which is either augmented or virtual reality, within the classroom.
Whitlock spent his two weeks at various seminars at the Scheller Teacher Education Program at MIT, exploring The Education Arcade and seeing new ways to engage in various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) scenarios through mixed reality learning by digitizing opportunities for students, both at the grade-school and college levels.
“We’re looking at ways for how mixed reality can impact teacher preparation,” Whitlock said. “We want to know if we can put a teacher in a virtual reality headset where they are in a classroom standing in front of students, interacting virtually in a computer program that simulates what it will be like to be in a classroom.
“They can also gain an understanding of what it’s like for students who may suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder or dyslexia. If we can equip those teachers in pre-service, then they will be more equipped to handle those situations in-service.”
Louisiana Tech Associate Dean for Research, Outreach and Innovation Dr. Lindsey Keith-Vincent applauded Whitlock’s initiative in seeking out new, unique methods for preparing teachers for the classroom.
“Dr. Whitlock’s vision for connecting with leaders at MIT to strengthen and expand our CEHS work in the learning and cognitive science spaces, has led to synergies that will lay the foundation for world-class research and partnership efforts here in Ruston,” Keith-Vincent said. “Louisiana Tech University has the opportunity through this work to be on the forefront of instructional and technological advancements that can transform the global learning landscape.
“Because of faculty like Dr. Whitlock, our CEHS has a seat at tables with leaders in key fields that are defining the future for communities of learners.”
Whitlock originally learned of a grant funding opportunity earlier this year through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which has components in both federal and state grant funding. Whitlock was able to secure grant funding at the state level through LINKS, which is Louisiana’s arm of EPSCoR.
“(Louisiana Tech) University graciously matched part of the LINKS funding, as well, so they were willing to also support me as a professional,” Whitlock said. “Really, my goal was to understand how one of the top research institutions in the world in MIT is conducting the work they are doing. And I wanted to see how we could better position ourselves as we look to do some similar work.
“LINKS is designed to connect us as a university to other institutions. And now we have a connection with MIT, and I was able to bring some things back and possibly connect some other colleagues to work that is being done there. It was a way to build a bridge between Louisiana Tech University and one of the top research institutions in the world.”
Whitlock concluding by thanking those that made it possible, including members of his college and the university.
“I’m very grateful to the Board of Regents for selecting me for the funding and providing me the opportunity,” Whitlock concluded. “I’m very grateful to Dr. Lindsey Keith-Vincent for her help as she navigated me through the grant writing process. I’m thankful to Dr. Don Schillinger for his work as the dean to help with funding, and to Dr. Ramu Ramachandran for his support.”
Ruston Police arrested a Grambling man last Monday after responding to a complaint of an unwanted person on the premises.
Officers responded to a Homer Street apartment complex where a man and woman were attempting to hide from managers. The managers said the apartment was rented but that the renters had not taken possession of the apartment.
A 17-year-old female said the two were using the apartment until they could find jobs. Kevin D. Martin, 24, of Grambling, said they arrived the previous night and rented the apartment from unknown men. When asked how much rent he had paid, Martin said he did not give them any money but was planning to do so.
Property managers desired to press charges and Martin was arrested for simple criminal damage to property and criminal trespass. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Grambling State University President Rick Gallot (seated at left) and Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat (seated at right), sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will bring students from Ghana to pursue graduate degrees in sports administration at Grambling State. They are pictured with (second row l-r), Dr. Connie Walton, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Priscilla Boadi Dzakpasu, Deputy Director Ghana Scholarship Secretariat; Dr. Obadiah Simmons, Interim Executive Director of the Office of Graduate Studies and Head of the Department of Kinesiology, Sport, & Leisure Studies; Richard Adu Gyamfi, Director International Relations and Partnerships; and Dr. Aaron Livingston, Graduate Program Coordinator for Sport Administration. Photo by Carlton Hamlin\Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, Grambling State University
Grambling State University strengthened its international footprint Thursday as President Rick Gallot and Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will bring students from Ghana for graduate studies at GSU.
The initial cohort of students from Ghana will come to study in Grambling State’s graduate program in sports administration.
The relationship was established by trips to Ghana by GSU professor Dr. Aaron Livingston and a group of sports administration students. Their trips in recent years to the West African country promoted education, sports, and cultural enrichment by becoming heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of youth sport camps as well as organization and administration of coaching seminars.
“We’ve taken Grambling State students to Ghana three times over the past three years,” Livingston said. “But this has been longer than that in the making. I’ve been to Ghana five times working on these agreements. And I’mactually going over there next month for a recruiting event.”
Livingston said that he hopes the first cohort of students from Ghana will begin studies at the start of Grambling State’s 2024 spring semester.
“The number of students depends on how my recruiting event goes,” Livingston said. “If I can get three to five students coming over here in the spring, that will help give me a measuring stick of how we need to approach the program. But that would be a good number to start with. Everybody wants the American brand for sports because it’s one of the most profitable industries in the world.”
Livingston said the Sports Administration graduate program at GSU is designed to take three-and-a-half years to complete.
“It just depends on how a student matriculates through the program,” Livingston said. “It’s a 39-hour program.”
Gallot expressed his pride in adding Ghana to the list of foreign countries that have students attending GSU.
“One of the things we (Gallot and Agyemang) talked about on our walk over from Grambling Hall (to the President’s Conference Room in Long Jones Hall) is that our student population is really reflective of the entire globe,” Gallot said. “When we look at our population from this past year, we had students from 37 states and 27 foreign countries.”
GSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Connie Walton said she believes the goals of Grambling State and universities from Grambling align well for the success of the agreement.
“I’m excited about this opportunity,” Walton said addressing the Ghana representatives before the signing of the MOU. “Dr, Livingston has been working on this particular partnership for some time. When I reviewed the mission statement (of the Ghana Board of Trustees), it really was in line with the mission of Grambling State University. You indicate that you really were established to address the qualities in education. Grambling State University was founded for that reason as well.”
She said she was also pleased with the way the agreement is set up and worded.
“The details of the MOU are really concrete,” Walton said. “They spell out exactly what’s going to happen. The students will apply to Grambling State University, and you will review those applications and so will Grambling State University, and both will be responsible for being part of the selection process.”
Walton said that once the students from Ghana are at Grambling State, GSU will keep officials from Ghana updated on the progress of the students and their level of achievement before the Ghana officials will decide if the scholarships for those students will continue or not.
Agyemang said getting to visit the campus made him feel even stronger about the agreement.
“I felt like I’m walking on a campus in Ghana. I see the connection, the attachment, and it gives me great confidence about the partnership,” Agyemang said. “Our country is very focused on education. We have more than 10,000 scholars globally and are very much excited about this MOU here.”
He also said he hopes the agreement will help serve the needs of universities in his country.
“We are committed to this MOU because our universities are in need of teachers with educations from other countries and I am confident Grambling State University will be a part of making that happen,” Agyemang said.
Livingston said he is also working with other countries in hopes of developing MOUs for student exchanges.
“I’m working with the University of Taipei and we’re also doing some work with Athens, Greece, right now trying to establish relationships there,” Livingston said. “All of this work is already showing benefits. I got a call last week from a university in Nigeria.”
Livingston also expressed his gratitude to Healthy Life Global, a nonprofit organization headed by Nikiel Winston, who earned her Master’s in Sports Administration at GSU, which emphasizes leadership, cultural education, health, and sport enrichment impacting thousands of children.
“That’s been a major partnership,” Livingston said of help received from Healthy Life Global. “They were the reason we were able to get our footprint in Ghana.”
As Gallot finished his welcome before the actual signing of the MOU, he stressed the students from Ghana will be part of the “GramFam” and that he has high hopes for the agreement’s success.
“When we think about our university motto — ‘The place where everybody is somebody’ — we want you to know and feel confident that any of your students who come here to study will be seen as a part of our Grambling family,” Gallot said. “We will certainly value and appreciate this relationship and look forward to reciprocating with our own visits to Ghana. Thank you, everybody, for the energy, the partnership, and for the sense of family and I certainly look forward to this program growing beyond any of our wildest dreams.”
Pictured is RHS football coach Jerrod Baugh flanked by senior Bearcats Nate Johnson (left) and Ahmad Breaux during Monday’s Bayou Jamb 2023 Press Conference.
Ruston High School football coach Jerrod Baugh opened his speech during Monday’s Bayou Jamb 2023 press conference at West Monroe High School’s Don Shows Field House by thanking event founder Patti Thurmon for the work she’s done over the years turning the event into one of the top high school football jamborees in the state.
Ruston will take on West Monroe in game four of the Bayou Jamb at 8 p.m. Friday at Rebel Stadium.
“Patti, I know you’ve heard this a lot but I do want to thank you once again for putting all of this together,” Baugh said. “When you’re dealing with 12 or 14 coaches at a time trying to get them to all agree on some things — that’s a feat in itself.”
Baugh also thanked new West Monroe coach Todd Garvin, who replaced Jerry Arledge as Rebels head coach during the offseason after serving as Ouachita Parish High School’s head coach last season, for his role as host coach It was a role Baugh expected to have as the 2023 Bayou Jamb was originally set to be played at Louisiana Tech’s Joe Aillet Stadium until the Bulldogs agreed to a “Week 0” game on their schedule that will be held on Saturday, forcing an audible for Thurmon and Bayou Jamb officials.
“I appreciate all the sponsors, all the volunteers and everybody that it takes to put this on. I appreciate Coach Garvin for all he has to do,” Baugh said. “When you host an event as big as something like this, there’s a lot of things that get pushed to the side with your program in order to accommodate everybody, so I appreciate Coach Garvin for letting us hold this here.”
Baugh also expressed his admiration for Arledge, who will be presented with a Bayou Jamb Lifetime Achievement Award during Friday’s jamboree between the Bearcats and Rebels.
“Coach Arledge, we’ve had quite a few battles since I’ve been at Ruston,” Baugh said. “That goes back to when I was at Longview (Texas High School) and when I was at Ouachita before that. You definitely deserve being in the Hall of Fame.
“What you’ve done for north Louisiana football and Louisiana football in general is something that many of us can only hope to give as much to the game as what you’ve done”
Baugh spoke of the significance of the Bayou Jamb and what it has come to mean for north Louisiana as a whole.
“We just appreciate being part of this event,” Baugh said. “It’s growing and something that I think you can see moving from ULM to LA Tech to West Monroe — it’s not a ‘place event,’ it’s an entire living, breathing thing I guess you can say, and that’s due to what Patti and what all the sponsors that continue to support this and support kids, really.
“At the end of the day that’s what we really want to do and hopefully we can continue to do that.”
Baugh had RHS seniors Nate Johnson and Ahmad Breaux on hand with him at the press conference.
“Nate plays safety for us and Ahmad Breaux plays defensive end, defensive tackle and some tight end for us,” Baugh said. “Nate actually played some quarterback in the spring when we needed him to. You won’t find any two finer guys that represent our football program and are what we want our football program to represent.
“If you want to know what’s made Ruston successful —- Nate’s made a 34 on the ACT and Ahmad’s made a 28, and they’re both above a 4.0 grade point average. So what makes us successful is that they can overcome a bunch of us idiot football coaches, and with good test scores they’ve overcome that.”
Baugh also talked of the perseverance his senior Bearcats have shown over their high school football careers.
“These players have a chance to do something really special,” Baugh said. “It started last year and we’ve got these guys and 20 other seniors — 22 total — that have overcome a lot.
“If you really think about it, this group of seniors are really the COVID kids. The season was abbreviated when they were freshmen, and to go through that and continue participating, they really had to love the game, stick with it, and go through a lot of different things.”
Baugh said looking at the big picture, having to move the Bayou Jamb schedule around due to the blistering heat wave blanketing north Louisiana is something that pales in comparison to the high school football careers his seniors have had.
“Shuffling some games because of heat to me isn’t a very big deal when you consider all the hoops we had to jump through just to have a season when these guys were freshmen. So I think if you look at all of these guys who are seniors, it’s a very special group in the fact they were able to overcome all of those things and have continued to play the game that they love.”
“Hopefully we can go out and compete against West Monroe,” Baugh said. “We overcame some things last year and did some things that hadn’t been done in a long period of time – beating those guys. Coach Arledge was a part of that for so many years.
Baugh also talked of the competitiveness between the Rebels and Bearcats, who won the game between the schools last November 35-17 to break a 33-yard losing streak to West Monroe.
“Everybody wanted to call that ballgame a rivalry and I always said it ain’t a rivalry when somebody’s kicking somebody’s butt all the time, and that’s the way it had been for a long time,” Baugh said. “That (33-year West Monroe win streak until last season) was a butt kicking. I use that word here, and the kids don’t even know that I use that word because I usually use another one talking about it. But Ruston-West Monroe has always been a very special game and hopefully we can get out there (Friday) and get our season kicked off to a good start.”
Pictured from left to right during Monday’s Bayou Jamb Press Conference are Cedar Creek’s Ladd Thompson, head coach William Parkerson, Gray Worthey and Brett Johnson.
First-year Cedar Creek head football coach William Parkerson should get a good gauge on his team Friday night as his Cougars take on Mangham in the second game of the rescheduled Bayou Jamb 2023 at West Monroe High School.
Parkerson, who had served at Cedar Creek as both an offensive coordinator (2017-18) and defensive coordinator (2011-2017) for the Cougars, said during the Bayou Jamb press conference on Monday at the WMHS Don Shows Fieldhouse that he’s going into the game simply looking to see where his team stands one week out from the start of regular-season play.
Cedar Creek will open the regular season on Sept. 1 with a home game against the Glenbrook Apaches.
“We didn’t do a full game plan or anything like that,” Parkerson said of his approach to the Bayou Jamb game against Mangham. “We’re just going to do what we do and see how we do.”
Parkerson expects his Cougars to face plenty of physicality from the Dragons.
“We’re going to see a couple of teams like that this year, so it’s going to be good to get a look at that kind of team,” Parkerson said. “Buckle up and get ready for a fistfight.”
Parkerson said facing a tough team like Mangham can only be a good thing heading into the start of a new season that made it to the Division IV Nonselect School semifinals.
“Let’s face a challenge and see where we are,’ Parkerson said. “We want to be a physical football team, so let’s go face a physical football team and see how we stack up with them.”
Starting center Brett Johnson attended the Bayou Jamb press conference but is highly unlikely to see action in the jamboree itself after injuring his left leg
Parkerson said they would find out more about the injury later Monday. Johnson was slated to undergo an MRI later Monday afternoon to determine the extent of the injury.
But even with a short-handed offensive line against a tough defensive line like Mangham, Parkerson is offering any excuses.
“This is a message to the guys — opportunities are available,” Parkerson said. “Next man up. Let’s see what happens.
“We’re not going to back down. We’re not going to cower. So let’s see where we are.”
Cedar Creek and Mangham were originally slated to play at 3 p.m. Saturday, but Bayou Jamb officials announced on Sunday they would not play afternoon games in what are expected to be temperatures in the range of 108 degrees and instead moved the Cougars-Dragons contest to 8 p.m. on Thursday.
“I love the fact the temperatures will be cooler than they would have been at 1 p.m. and that we’ll get an extra couple days to prepare for the regular-season opener,” Parkerson said. “That’s going to really end up being a huge benefit.
In the Bayou Jamb, the Cougars won’t be facing the best rusher in the state, as Mangham’s Jaylen Williams was last year when he was voted the 2022 Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year after a record-breaking performance that helped lead the Dragons to an appearance in the state semifinals
Williams rushed for a state-best 2,844 yards last season, averaging nearly 11 yards per carry while scoring 44 touchdowns.
But the Dragons do return senior quarterback Austin Lively, who was named the District 2-2A Offensive MVP as a junior.
Mangham head coach Scott Wilcher said his team does head into the Bayou Jamb with a new attitude they Dragons have worked on over the summer.
“We had a great summer but we did things differently after two straight losses in the semifinals,” said Wilcher. “Maybe we just weren’t mentally tough enough to get to that next stage we want to get to, and that’s the state championship.
“The guys really bought into the changes we made over the summer heading into the fall. They’re really good kids and are excited. We’re young. We’ll be playing 12 or 13 sophomores, but our seniors have been great leaders and run the locker room, and we appreciate that.”
Wilcher used Parkerson as an age-measuring stick during the press conference.
“Can I tell you how old I am?,” Wilcher asked. “I coached against Coach Parkerson’s dad when he was at West Feliciana. I think it was 1994. We had ‘Booger’ MacFarland on that Winnsboro team and I take all the credit for Booger’s strengths.
In social media’s sprawling landscape, where opinions clash and debates often overshadow camaraderie, an unexpected haven of inspiration is emerging through the pixels and posts: uplifting Christian memes.
These digital nuggets of wisdom can offer a respite amid the hustle of everyday scrolling, reminding us of our soul’s intrinsic worth and the boundless love that divine grace bestows upon us.
As I navigate my daily digital journey, I find myself collecting these virtual gems – snapshots of profound thoughts that now reside in the gallery of my phone, awaiting their turn to spark moments of personal reflection and, today, to share rays of hope with you.
In fact, I’m struck by a realization while scrolling through the images I’ve saved over the past month or so. It seems that our loving Father has brought a substantial collection of thoughts into my view – and therefore into my head – that are exactly what I needed to see at this time. For Christians, that’s not a new concept, but it’s still reassuring to observe it in our own personal lives.
Now, in this exploration, let’s delve into the vivid spectrum of Christian memes that have recently taken up abode in my digital space. As we survey these insightful musings, let’s peel back the layers of this visual ministry and uncover the impact these shared sentiments can have on our lives.
– On my sister’s feed, a weighty reflection on the soul’s value emerges: “Ponder how valuable your soul must be for Satan to tirelessly pursue it and the King to lay down his own life for it.”
– A Bible Study Fellowship classmate’s post emphasizes God’s love: “Have you ever considered that God has fallen in love with you? He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you sunshine every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he listens to you. He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chooses your heart. Amen.”
– A voice from the past reminds us of God’s power and protection: “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress – Psalms 59:16.”
– From the page of a high school church camp friend comes a reminder about trusting divine intervention: “Sometimes God kills the connection so the connection doesn’t kill you.”
– From the lens of a journalistic connection, we gain awareness life’s possibilities: “When you look at a field of dandelions, you can see either a hundred weeds or a thousand wishes.”
These are just a few of the hundreds of images I’ve collected through the years. I hope they resonate with you as much as they do with me.
But does a study of Facebook and Instagram memes take the place of studying the Good Book? Of course not.
And do such graphics sometimes present erroneous messages? If you’ve been around the digital world for any length of time, you know the answer to this question as well.
Even so, I believe these on-screen spiritual reflections can sometimes be part of the cure for what is ailing us. In his providence, the Great Physician often puts them into our path. They may not solve our problems outright or overall, but they can help bring our mind to where it needs to be, especially when they are from the scriptures themselves, such as this one:
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think – Ephesians 3:20.”
So, join me in this assessment of pixels that carry profound messages as we seek solace, share hope and rekindle the warmth of unity amid the ever-evolving backdrop of social media.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
A man wanted by Claiborne Parish authorities for failure to register as a sex offender was arrested last Sunday by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office.
About 2:15 a.m., a deputy stopped a car on U. S. 80 near Louisiana Highway 3005 for improper lights. A check showed the driver, James Clinton Green, 34, of Haynesville, was wanted on a warrant accusing him of failing to register as a convicted sex offender.
After the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office verified the warrant, Green was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he was held pending transfer to Claiborne Parish.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ruston High School volleyball’s 2023 season will see two temporary changes that are only slated to last one year: a new home venue and a new head (yet very familiar) head coach.
And at the helm of the program for this year, Mandy Cauley, the inaugural coach of the program, will make a return to the bench for one season to give head coach Lucie Hunt the needed recovery time after summer procedures to address a cancer diagnosis– and thankfully, the prognosis is looking very good.
“I’m excited to be back as part of the program,” Cauley said. “You know, switching seats from being a parent fan to the seats on the bench is quite different– especially since I have two daughters on the team. But I’m excited about it.
“It means a lot that she trusts me with the program and her kids. It just says a lot for the level of communication and the type of relationship that we have to be able to do this. I’m just glad I can be there for her in a time of need.
For Hunt, there was no one else she would rather take over in an interim period as she will be a spectator during her recovery process.
“When we sat down in early June and talked about what was going to happen, it was obviously kind of scary looking towards the future with me stepping away and then her having to step into this role that she hasn’t been in in a very long time,” Hunt said. “She started the Ruston program, and she’s a very knowledgeable coach.
“And now that she has high school age girls playing, she just kind of did a deep dive and fully immersed herself as the volleyball mom and a volleyball coach. So it was a no brainer to ask her to step in. It was a just a good fit.”
Cauley spoke to how she has been around the current roster of players for many years, so familiarity will not be a problem.
“I’ve known this group of kids since the seniors started playing volleyball,” Cauley said. “I was their coach at A.E. Phillips or with Rocket Fuel. So I’ve been with these girls in some form or another since the beginning; it hasn’t been just the past few years. I was there when they started, and then they took their journeys in their own direction. So it’s really neat to see how they’ve grown as individuals and players.”
A fun challenge Cauley will navigate is now coaching her two daughters from the bench in junior outside hitter Harper and now freshman setter Baylor.
“There’s going to be an interesting dynamic there,” Cauley said. “I’m trying be intentional about when I talk to them as ‘mom’ and when I talk to them as ‘coach’ so that we have balance. It’s a delicate situation. Everyone tells me I’ll look back and these will be the most special memories, sure. But it’s not just their needs, but the rest of the players as well; it’s the perception of the whole team and of the parents– everybody. I don’t believe in favortism, so I’m going to be careful.”
Ruston will continue August scrimmages and host a Jamboree on Friday, Aug. 26, at the Ruston Sports Complex.
The regular season will being Thursday, Aug. 31, as Ruston will host Parkway. Stay tuned to the Lincoln Parish Journal for a story on the full volleyball schedule next week.
Tickets are now available for purchase for the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The event is set for Friday, Sept. 15 inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the ceremony beginning at 7 p.m.
Being honored as part of the 2023 Hall of Fame Class is two-time Ray Guy Award winner Ryan Allen, three-time All-Sun Belt Conference performer Lonnie Cooper, seven-time All-American sprinter Trey Hadnot, Kodak All-American Tamicha Jackson, All-American lineman Chris Richardson, two-time Southland Coach of the Year Andy Russo, and three-time All-American linebacker Glenell Sanders.
Tickets are $50 per seat and $400 for a table of eight. A limited number are available for the event and can be purchased HERE. For more information, contact Championship Resources assistant Gracie McCorkle at gmccorkle@latechalumni.org or (318) 497-7532.
There will be a social reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar available leading up to the ceremony. Dress is business casual.
Huey P. Warner April 18, 1940 – August 16, 2023 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Thursday, August 24, 2023, 9:30 am – 10:30 am Service: Greenwood Cemetery, Thursday, August 24, 2023, 11:00 am Cemetery: Greenwood Cemetery, Thursday, August 24, 2023
Janice “Jan” Williamson May 1, 1943 – August 17, 2023 Services pending
Charlotte Ann (Williams) King August 5, 1947 – August 10, 2023 Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Ruston, Saturday, September 2, 2023, 10:00 am
(This is one of 20 profiles on the recipients selected by an anonymous committee out of an extensive list of nominees for the 2023 Rising Lincoln Leader Award. The Lincoln Parish Journal thanks Mayor Ronny Walker and the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce for their support of this award. Photo by Kevin Hawkins at HawkinsPhoto.com).
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Name: Colton Primm
Age: 31
Employer: Louisiana Tech University (Department of Athletics)
Title: Senior Associate Athletics Director for Championship Resources
Hometown: Fayetteville, AR
How long have you lived in Lincoln Parish: Two years
Civic-volunteer organizations: ADs for Christ
Professional Highlights: Serving as sport administrator and Interim Head Golf Coach for Louisiana Tech during the spring of 2023 and helping lead the team to the finals of the Conference USA championships; Serving alongside fellow administrators and friends on the Louisiana Tech Athletics executive staff and helping make decisions to provide our student-athletes with the best experience possible and move our athletics department forward; Creating the Aillet Society, the first-ever major giving society (gifts of $25,000 and up) for Louisiana Tech Athletics, and building it up to 60+ members in year one (2022-23); Helping lead the fundraising efforts at the Razorback Foundation (University of Arkansas) and navigating through the Covid-19 pandemic while personally generating over $3M in revenue in 2020 and 2021; Leading the athletics annual giving program at the University of Central Arkansas and setting the all-time athletics fundraising record in 2018.
Dr. Eric Wood, VP and Director of Athletics at LA Tech, on Colton Primm:
“I’m proud of Colton and how committed he’s been not only to fundraising for our student-athletes and coaches, but also with finding ways to positively impact the donor experience. He’s been an excellent addition to the advancement staff, our athletics family and the Ruston community and he’s put together a great team that is poised to have an even greater impact once we get it rolling again this year. He is one of the rising stars in collegiate athletics fundraising and we are so thrilled to have him in the Louisiana Tech Family.”
Q&A with Colton Primm
What makes Lincoln Parish special?
The people. When my family moved to Lincoln Parish in 2021, the community welcomed us with true southern hospitality. It has been a friendly and safe area, which has made for a great place to raise our family.
How do you see your role in improving Lincoln Parish?
Louisiana Tech University and Louisiana Tech Athletics are an integral part of this community. My role within the athletics department is to build connection between our athletic programs and Louisiana Tech alumni, fans, and the local community in order to grow support for Tech Athletics. I believe that when Louisiana Tech flourishes, so does Lincoln Parish.
Who has played a pivotal role in your professional development and why?
I am blessed to be part of an industry (intercollegiate athletics) where there are few degrees of separation among everyone, and people tend to look out for one another. I’ve had stops at Ohio University, the University of Central Arkansas, the Razorback Foundation at the University of Arkansas, and now Louisiana Tech University. There have been multiple people at each stop who have played a pivotal role in my professional development, but none more than my current boss and friend, Vice President/Director of Athletics, Dr. Eric Wood.
I knew Eric Wood, the person, through our connection with ADs for Christ, long before I knew Eric Wood the boss. He is the same person now as he was then. He is a servant leader and because of the culture he has created, he makes coming to work every day a true joy. He has instilled confidence in me and made me a better fundraiser, a better colleague, and a better leader. More importantly, his impact has made me a better husband and father.
After graduating from Ruston High School Class of ’21, Abbey Warren took her culinary skills to Nicholls State University where she hones her craft at baking.
“I knew from my freshman year that I wanted to go to Nicholls,” said Warren. “I’ve always been into baking as a kid. Once, I got cookie dough from the school to sell, and I baked it. I went around my neighborhood selling it and made about $100 that weekend.”
Warren said this was when her love for baking really grew.
“I was hooked after that,” said Warren.
During her time at Nicholls, she has taken normal classes like English and history with four-hour culinary classes each week.
This summer, she completed nearly 540 hours at Biltmore Estates, North Carolina, as part of an internship.
The first half of the internship was spent at Deerpark restaurant where Warren worked next to her manager to prepare pastries or baked goods for banquets and events.
“It could be anywhere from five people to 500 that we were making desserts for,” said Warren. “It was very challenging.”
Warren would have shifts going from as late as midnight to seven in the morning the next day.
For her second half of the internship, she began working at The Bistro restaurant which had a much more rushed atmosphere.
“I would work prep two days a week, then work line three days a week,” said Warren. “It takes a lot of patience, but it’s a lot of fun.”
Warren has had past experience this past spring; she worked at Berckman’s Palace for the Master’s Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia.
“It’s one of the only golf tournaments that never moves,” said Warren. “Berckman’s Palace is the VIP restaurant. I worked in commissary prep, so chopping foods.”
Her first three days were eight-hour shifts and the last seven days were 12-to-14-hour days.
“That one was rough, but my internship was a really good learning opportunity,” said Warren.
Warren starts back at Nicholls today, where she will be taking classes on cooking Cajun creole.
“I learned a lot about myself, how I work and who I work best with in different management styles,” said Warren. “I’ve gained a lot of confidence in the kitchen and it was a good use of my summer.”
With temperatures slated for as high as 106 this coming weekend, Cedar Creek’s jamboree game against Mangham is now moving to Thursday night.
According to Creek head coach William Parkerson Sunday night, the Cougars will now play at 8 p.m. on Thursday at Rebel Stadium in West Monroe.
Originally, the game was slated to start at 3 p.m. Saturday. However, the forecast is calling for highs around 105 and Bayou Jamb officials are making the smart decision to shift games around.
Seven games were slated for Friday and Saturday, including five games on Saturday starting late morning and running through the entire day.
However, now the seven games will be spread over three days starting with Thursday.
Parkerson said he was relieved about the change.
“No doubt this is a good move,” said the Cougars head coach.
Ruston High coach Jerrod Baugh told the LPJ Sunday night that the Bearcats game against West Monroe is still schedule for Friday night at 8 p.m.
The Bayou Jamb press conference is slated for this morning at 10 a.m. at West Monroe and additional details are expected to be announced.
Ruston Police arrested one man and seized two rifles, drugs, and drug paraphernalia during the investigation of a fight last Sunday evening.
Officers responded to Allen Street about 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening regarding a reported fight in progress. There they found a victim who said a group of young men from the Sikes Street area had jumped on him.
Police patrolled the area looking for the suspects and located a group at a boarded-up house marked with ‘no trespassing’ signs. While interviewing the group, officers found two backpacks under the carport. No one in the group would claim the backpacks. A search of a backpack revealed a M4 carbine with no buttstock, making it more concealable.
The rifle contained a fully-loaded magazine and was equipped with a “brass catcher.” Brass catchers are designed to capture empty shell casings as they are ejected from a rifle. They can be used to prevent evidence from being left at a crime scene.
When one of the men seated in a vehicle at the location was approached, officers smelled raw marijuana. Johntarius E. Thomas, 20, of Ruston, admitted he had marijuana in the car. A search was conducted, and a Radical Arms M4-style rifle was found on the back seat. A records check indicated the rifle was stolen.
Also recovered in the car search were multiple bags of marijuana and digital scales.
Thomas was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, illegal possession of stolen things, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, violation of the controlled substance drug-free zone (church), and criminal trespass.
Bail for Thomas was set at $35,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Police may have stopped a shooting from occurring when they arrested a man carrying a firearm on the Grambling State University campus Wednesday.
Brad Anthony Woods, Jr., 30, of Leesville, was arrested by GSU Police shortly after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday after officers received a tip about a shooting allegedly about to happen.
GSU Police received information that someone was going to Martha Adams Hall, part of the campus’s residential housing, with intent to shoot a student. Officers found Woods outside an entrance to the building and approached him.
In reply to questioning by officers, Woods said he was not a GSU student, and he that had a gun in his pocket. A Glock 26 9mm pistol with a loaded 15-round magazine was recovered from Woods, according to police..
At the GSU police station, Woods told police he was going to see his brother and did not want to leave the weapon in his car. Police searched the car and found an empty 31-round pistol magazine on the front passenger floorboard.
Woods was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for carrying a firearm on school property. His bail amount was not available.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Bigger question. Are you ready to win $200 in cash and prizes each week?
Starting in September, the Lincoln Parish Journal will hold the Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Martin Presence and Heard Construction.
Last year it was NFL games. This year it’s what the deep south lives for …. college football.
Anyone is eligible to participate and each weekly winner will go home with a $200 cash prize. Each week the winner will be the participant with the best record out of 15 selected college football games (ties will be broken by two separate tiebreakers consisting of guessing the total points scored in two of our weekly contests).
The Karl Malone Toyota College Football Pick’em Contest presented by Martin Presence and Heard Construction will be conducted for 13 regular season weeks of the college season starting with Week 1 games (Sept. 2).
There is no entry fee, just like there is no cost to subscribe to the Lincoln Parish Journal. It takes 20-30 seconds to sign up and not much longer than that to make your picks.
All contest decisions by LPJ management are final. Weekly winners will be notified Monday and will be requested to take a photo that will run in the following week’s LPJ.
Every participant will receive a FREE subscription to the Journal, if you’re not already signed up for the easily-navigated, convenient 6:55 a.m. daily e-mail. Enjoy it all, for FREE, and enter each week’s contest. You could collect $200 each week!
An alleged drug-impaired driver whose license had already been suspended was arrested on Interstate 20 in Ruston early last Saturday morning.
A Lincoln Parish patrol supervisor spotted a Honda westbound on I-20 weaving from side to side through Ruston. When the car was stopped, the deputy saw loose marijuana on the driver’s shirt and could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
A search found a cup containing marijuana in the car’s center console and a records check showed Tra’Voris D. Richardson’s driver’s license was suspended. The 21-year-old Arcadia man also showed signs of impairment with slurred speech and unsteady balance.
Richardson was taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where he refused to submit to a breath test. However, he did submit a urine sample and preliminary testing showed the presence of three controlled substances.
Richardson was booked for first offense DWI, possession of marijuana, improper lane usage, and driving under suspension.
Bail was set at $1,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Lawson Lillo (1) breaks away for a long gain during the Cougars scrimmage against Lakeside (photo by Darrell James).
By Malcolm Butler
Ladd Thompson connected on a 70-yard scoring strike to Kade Luker and Noah Durrett scored on a 17-yard run to highlight Cedar Creek’s Friday night scrimmage at Lakeside.
The night saw each team get nine offensive possessions during the scripted, controlled portion of the scrimmage and then line up and play one 12-minute quarter.
Creek’s defense was stellar the entire evening, not allowing a single score while forcing eight 3-and-outs during Lakeside’s 12 offensive possessions on the night.
Parkerson, who had said earlier in the week he wanted to see his team “line up correctly and play fundamental football,” was pleased with aspects of the night.
“We lined up good,” said Parkerson. “We have to clean up some fundamentals. I told them we have to clean up some mental mistakes and penalties. We probably could have scored four or five more touchdowns, but penalties just killed drives.
“I thought we played hard. I thought we were physical. We executed pretty good at times, but it was the first time with live bullets. There will be a lot of good stuff to learn from.”
The night didn’t start very well for the Cougars. Three of the first five snaps from scrimmage resulted in fumbles while starting center Brett Johnson went down with a left ankle injury on just the second play of the night.
Creek entered the evening with just 27 healthy players and has already lost offensive lineman Joseph Luffey for potentially the season with a knee injury during the first week of practice. Parkerson was unsure of Johnson’s long-term status.
“We don’t know (his status yet),” said Parkerson. “We hope for the best. They say they don’t know, but we will hope for the best. We will get him checked out in the morning and hopefully we will get some good news.”
Offensively, Creek showed some signs of life throughout the night. Thompson hit Lukar on a 70-yard TD on just the second offensive possession of the night. The two just missed on two more long pass plays later in the scrimmage.
However, it was the Cougars rushing attack that began to pick up steam as the evening wore on. Worthey and Lillo both ripped off multiple 20-plus yard runs while Durrett hit paydirt on the ground for Creek.
“The first series we really struggled to get the dive going,” said Parkerson. “But after that we got the dive going which opens up everything in this offense. Gray Worthey and Noah Durrett did a good job running in between the tackles and (Lawson) Lillo had some good runs to the outside.”
Thompson wasn’t 100 percent full go at QB for Creek. Parkerson said his signal caller was put on a bit of a leash in order to not aggravate a muscle tweak sustained in practice last week.
“There were a couple of times if Ladd is healthy that he pulls it and he scores,” said Parkerson. “But hey, we will get him healthy for the regular season.”
A number of young Cougars made some nice plays. Freshman Ryan Coleman caught a 41-yard pass from Lukar when the Creek second team offense was under center. Coleman also made a nice play defensively, intercepting a Lakeside pass on the first offensive possession of the night by the home team.
“He had the pick,” said Parkerson of Coleman. “It was a nice pick for his first play on defense on the varsity. Kade Lukar had the touchdown (reception). He is another ninth grader. We had a bunch of young guys step up with is good to see.”
Sophomore lineman Bryce Martin was also a bright spot for the Cougars, making numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage during the night.
“(Bryce) flashed a good bit and did a nice job on the offensive line as well,” said Parkerson.
During the latter part of the scrimmage — a 12-minute live quarter — the Cougars had a number of opportunities to score, driving inside Lakeside’s 20-yard line on two separate occasions. However, on the final play of the night, Thompson threw an interception that was returned 102 yards for the only score of the night by Lakeside.
The Creek defense didn’t allow a single first down to Lakeside in the quarter in three possessions as James Myers recorded an interception for the Cougars.
Cedar Creek will face Mangham on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bayou Jamb at Rebel Stadium in West Monroe.
Louisiana Tech University conferred 253 degrees on new graduates in the Summer 2023 Commencement ceremony at the Thomas Assembly Center, the University’s 345th commencement overall.
Dr. Hisham Hegab, retiring College of Engineering and Science (COES) dean and a 1989 graduate of Tech, delivered the commencement address. Hegab was named dean in July 2014 after serving as interim dean of the College during the 2013-2014 academic year.
He offered Tech’s newest alumni three key ways to live their life after their graduation.
“During this speech, I hope to provide you with three pieces of advice to take with you,” Hegab said. “Number one, take the time to fully appreciate the important moments in life… Number two, be open to opportunities that life places in your path… Lastly, make serving others part of the mission of your life.”
He also told the graduates to realize the importance of their significant opportunities and savor the new journeys they will embark on.
“Remember there is a beautiful life ahead of you with opportunities to experience joy, growth, and servanthood,” Hegab said. “May you find fulfillment and purpose while pursuing your dreams.”
During the ceremony, President Les Guice announced he had designated Hegab as dean emeritus and professor emeritus of the College of Engineering and Science in recognition of his exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the University during his 28 years of guiding, researching, and teaching.
Also in the ceremony, Jeffrey Pike was honored with the Distinguished Service Award for his work as a COES senior lecturer and a head commencement marshal for the University. Pike served as an officer in the United States Army for 22 years.
Each Monday and Friday, the Lincoln Parish Journal will post a list of non-for-profit upcoming events happening in the parish. If you would like to add your event to this list or advertise your for-profit events, please email us at lpjnewsla@gmail.com.
Monday, August 21 Pre-k and kindergarten boys only (Lincoln Parish schools; grades 1-12 still all attend) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome 6 p.m.: Toastmasters International meeting (Louisiana Center for the Blind, 101 South Trenton Street) 5:30 p.m.: Ruston Planning and Zoning Meeting (Ruston City Hall)
Tuesday, August 22 Pre-k and kindergarten girls only (Lincoln Parish schools; grades 1-12 still all attend)
Wednesday, August 23 All Lincoln Parish students attend 7-8 a.m.: Veterans Coffee Club (PJ’s Coffee) 11:30 a.m.: Lunch on Us (Presbyterian Church, 212 North Bonner Street., Ruston) — everyone welcome
Saturday, August 26 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Ruston Farmers Market 8 p.m.: Tech football v. FIU (Joe Aillet Stadium)
